I've been spending time with dear old friends from Washington, D.C., Jim and Cindy, who now live in Northern California. They're visiting Sevilla with their two charming, clever, and amazing kids, Celie and Will (11 and 8).
|
INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL. |
Yesterday, I joined the family as they toured the Cathedral and climbed the Giralda (bell tower), strolled the Barrio Santa Cruz, and checked out lots of other places along the way. We had lunch, coffee and hot chocolate, ice cream, and then we all had a perfect dinner at Dos de Mayo followed by more coffee, hot chocolate, and cakes at Emperador Trajano. During our ice cream break in the afternoon, everyone was wondering what San Geraldo was doing and I said he probably had just finished his siesta and would now be having his afternoon snack of cheese, crackers, and apples. I said he always serves up that snack in the afternoon, and that I consider it cooking because he slices the apples.
|
VIEWS OF SEVILLA AS WE CLIMBED THE GIRALDA. |
|
FACING OFF. THE HORSE EVENTUALLY WON. SHE SHOOK HER HEAD, SNORTED, AND THEY JUMPED. |
|
IN YEARS TO COME: "WILL, WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT SEVILLA?" ANSWER: "I WALKED RIGHT UP TO A HORSE. AND I CHASED A PIGEON." |
|
OVER THE RAINBOW WITH CELIE AND WILL. |
Will asked, "Is cutting the cheese also cooking?"
I began to answer semi-seriously that to me at least it was when I noticed that Celie was in a fit of hysterical laughter.
Oh, "cutting the cheese," as in passing gas, breaking wind, tooting, farting, or any number of terms. Did I mention they were charming?
|
"IS CUTTING THE CHEESE COOKING?" |
I love it when kids set us up with their sense of humor.... those guys looked like they had a blast doing the sight-seeing bit! How lucky to see the rainbow.
ReplyDeleteOdd Essay:
DeleteThe rainbow was magic! And Celie and Will were a joy. Fun, charming, gracious, interesting. Perfect company!
Sweet kids!
ReplyDeleteThat first photo of stained glass window is stunning!!
The 'climbing the Giralda' photos are great too.
Whoa,was that YOU? lol
Jim:
DeleteI swear it was Will!
Oh, I'll bet it's fun for you to be able to show good friends around your new city. Great photos, great story :)
ReplyDeleteJudy
Judeet:
DeleteI do enjoy being tour guide. And Cindy, Jim, and family were the best people to share the city with.
Great photos indeed, and cutting the cheese can be a lot of work... ;)
ReplyDeletePeter:
DeleteCooking!
I love the photo of Celie laughing. They sound like they're fun kids!
ReplyDeleteMs. Sparrow:
DeleteCelie laughed so hard it hurt. I'm so glad to make her happy.
I often hear about the Cathedral in Seville which is incredible and fantastic but the nearby Alcazar is also a treasure, but nobody ever mentions it. I think the Royal family stays there when in town.
ReplyDeleteStephen, when I was in Seville last October, visiting Mitch and San Geraldo, I did went to the Alcazar and it's magnificant, the halls, the gardens, the art. Alas the rows in front of the cathedral [to get in] were too long and it was too warm [IMHO] but we saw one of the side chapels. The cathedral has to wait till another time.
DeleteStephen:
DeleteThe Alcázar is fascinating. I did a post on it when we were here for vacation in early 2011 (http://mitchellismoving.blogspot.com.es/2011/01/alcazar-and-our-first-flamenco.html). I haven't gotten back because I always seem to hit it when there's a long line. My friends were there Saturday without me.
Great story! Love kids with a sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteCarole:
DeleteThese are two kids with very refined senses of humor!
"Grandpa cut the cheese!" was an annual Thanksgiving tradition call when Grandfather opened the edam cheese for our pumpkin pie. I think of family thanksgivings when I hear this dreadful term.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteWow! That would never have even been mentioned in my family!
It was a five star visit;). Being with you and San Geraldo was the highlight of our visit! It was like coming home.
ReplyDeleteLove you guys. Cindy
Cindy:
DeleteIt was a love fest as far as we were concerned. Wish you lived nearby! We've been in a funk since you left!
amazing day and photos...the smile on her face in the last pic is priceless :)
ReplyDeleteMonkey:
DeleteThose kids have smiles and laughs that need to be bottled to be on-hand whenever I'm down!
I've had the pleasure of being in Sevilla twice but never managed to climb the Giralda -- my loss. Maybe I'll get another chance some day. But I did get the chance while visiting inside the Cathedral to shake the hand of la Reina Sofia as she was exiting from a memorial service she had attended. She was both elegant and gracious.
ReplyDeleteWill:
DeleteI love climbing the Giralda. Fascinating history and incredible views. Next time, I'll have to remember to take pictures of the interior. As for shaking hands, with the elegant and gracious, I DID get to shake Will and Celie's hands (and kiss their cheeks)!
What fun with the children from a child's eye view...so cool. I could handle the food especially some cheese...lol!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteThe kids are unusually adventurous when it comes to food. They were both willing to try the cheese ice cream. (They didn't order it, but they did like it!)
You would ONLY get me up there if I had a general anaesethetic
ReplyDeleteJohn:
DeleteOr several stiff drinks? San Geraldo is not a big fan of heights, but doesn't mind the Giralda. My photos make it look like you're much more exposed than you really are when climbing. And, I was always shoving my camera out into space for the photos. I have no fear of heights myself, but I'm nearly phobic of climbing between a ladder and a roof. Bizarre.
Victor:
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with that shot of the stained glass. Will have to go back and get shots of the other windows.
That window is unbelievable. Really one of the most impressive stained-glass windows I think I've ever seen. You live in such a beautiful place, so different from where I am. Canada is so young! :)
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteThere is a lot of amazing stained glass around here, as you can probably imagine. Now that I know I can get decent shots, I may wander around and do a blog post just on that.